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(11) | EP 1 217 124 A3 |
(12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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(54) | High-bulk cellulosic fibers and process for making the same |
(57) Individualized, chemically crosslinked high-bulk cellulosic fibers comprising cellulosic
fibers chemically intra-fiber crosslinked with a polycarboxylic acid crosslinking
agent selected from the group consisting of tartaric acid and malic acid and mixtures
thereof optionally further comprising the addition of one or more crosslinking agents
selected from poly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), poly(maleic acid), poly
(methylvinylether-co-maleate) copolymer, poly(methylvinylether-co-itaconate) copolymer,
citric acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, citraconic acid, maleic acid, itaconic
acid, tartrate monosuccinic acid and mixtures thereof. A method of making individualized
chemically intra-fiber crosslinked high-bulk fibers comprises applying a polycarboxylic
acid crosslinking agent to a mat of cellulosic fibers and curing the crosslinking
agent to form intra-fiber crosslinks. |